1815.J 



nient, I have only become confirmed in 

 its correctness, and determined in its 

 defence. By inviting discussion, I am 

 Avilling to consider opposite opinions, to 

 which I c;ia never become a convert ; 

 and refer it for a final decision to the sn- 

 preme verdict of posterity, by wliose 

 neglect or regard Mr. Scott mast be 

 tried, and acquitted, or condemned. 



None can withliold the praise of abi- 

 lity from Mr. Scott; the natural ampli- 

 tude of his mind, the fervency of his 

 imagination, t!ie vigour of iiis judgment, 

 and the fertility of his invention, al- 

 ways bold, daring, and novel in its de- 

 signs, command our esteem, even in the 

 perversions to which t!iey give birth. 

 As we allow him the power necessary 

 to beget cxoelleiicc, and refine barba- 

 rity, it remains that we should explain 

 the reasons that obstruct his accom- 

 plishment of perfection, and display the 

 causes that clog his genius with the 

 weight of imperfection. To allcdge so 

 serious a c'large without adducing the 

 proof, is an aspersion of wliich i am iiot 

 willing to be supposed guilty. 



It is a folly, naturally attendant upon 

 uncommon powers, to dissipate their vi- 

 gour upon schemes of futility, and sport 

 without profit amidst the sun-beams of 

 fancy; to seize every appearance of no- 

 velty with eager impatience, and to de- 

 part from the track of nature, in hopes 

 of being rewarded by the afllnence of 

 pleasure, or the honour of improvement. 

 He who once sets out nptm so dtihions 

 an enterprizc cannot hoijo 1o escape tlie 

 mazes of a labvrinth, nor avoid the in- 

 troduction of strange modes and falla- 

 cious sentiments; and, if hc" ever be- 

 comes convinced of tlic extent of his er- 

 rors and tiic corruption of Iiis taste, lie 

 must owe it more to the felicity of for- 

 tune tiian to the candour of his iniud, 

 or the quickness of his sagacity. 



By a rash desire of indiscriminate 

 novelty, Scott has been driven to the 

 absurd fictions and barbarous events of 

 the middle ages for subjects on which (o 

 exer<;ise his powers, vvithont considering 

 whether theyvvcre adetpiate to his ge- 

 nius or worthy of emi;ellishment. (Jn- 

 liapjiily for the poet, and the age whose 

 taste he has corrupted, the subjects hc 

 selected jiartook so largely of the barba- 

 risin and absurdity incident to the 

 times which produced them, that they 

 fell below his own powers, and failed to 

 reward the labour that was consequent- 

 ly lost in ada|)ting them to poetry. The 

 j^enius of the bard being compelled to 

 •toop 1o the nature of his materials, he 



MoNTiiLV Mag. No. 2'M. 



American Estimate of Walter Scott. 329 



soon became divested of all those no- 

 bler emotions of refined knowledge pe- 

 culiar to the present age ; he contem- 

 plated absurdity without disgust; adorn- 

 ed superstition in the brightest colours 

 of fancy, that cherished deformity, at 

 which reason revolted ; he aggravated 

 ferocity with needless horror ; and dis- 

 l)!ayed ignorance with ridiculous pre- 

 cision and contemptible parade. By 

 such imprudent arts he contracted tlis 

 faults that he pourtraycd ; and, instead 

 of rendciiug his story more interesting 

 and agreeable by softening the defecte 

 of anlif]!iity with the beauties of recent 

 refinement, he clouded his own fanc)', 

 and impaired Lis works, by passionately 

 embracing the most rcpugnant qualities 

 of those remote ages. The natural in- 

 fluence of their adoption extends to 

 every faculty ; it discolours the purity 

 of the sentiment, enfeebles the interest 

 of the action, deforms the propriety oS 

 the metaphor, and destroys the beauty 

 of the catastrophe. To shine with po- 

 lished grace, or preserve majestic dig- 

 nity, under the influence of such baneful 

 aberiations, required greater cautioa 

 than ambition can exercise, and tast« 

 exalted above the temptation of the se- 

 ductive glitter of empty charms. 



The force of this mischievous admira- 

 tion for barbaroiis peculiarities also in- 

 duced hjni to adopt a method of versi- 

 fication destitute of elegance, and in- 

 compatible with harmony and vigoui-, 

 majesty, or grace. No English poem of 

 considerable length can please long that 

 is not written in tlie heroic measure. 

 The style of ancient ballads, the oil- 

 spring of rude invention, is ill fitted la 

 delight the fastidious taste of modern 

 readers, or to narrate, without becoming 

 tedious, a connecteil scries of compli- 

 cated actions. Scott is most admired 

 in those pieces in wliich he has followed 

 tiie English heroic often syllables; and 

 I believe his other jioems are never pe- 

 rused a second time by his most devoted 

 admirers and strenuous supporters. 

 What is so soon forgotten, or generally 

 forsaken, can possess no standard ex- 

 cellence or superior charms, but must 

 be recommended to aftentiun, for the 

 moment, by the glare of novelty, and 

 the aid of adventitious embellishments; 

 I mean those embellishments that are 

 indepcndani of style, and that appeal to 

 the passions for a favourable reception. 



To deny him great copiousness of 



fancy would be unjust, but he seem? 



too prolific to allow of discrimination ; 



his store of images i.s cxiuiusilesa, but 



"U u (U«y 



